The Bucs are in a a lot completely different spot heading into 2024 than the one they had been in forward of the 2023 season. And it’s clear that the continuity coming off of final season is breeding a palpable confidence all through the workforce. You would really feel it throughout Wednesday’s apply, the primary of coaching camp, and you’ll count on the gamers and coaches to hold that confidence and construct on it going ahead.
In any case, there are some good vibes circulating all through the workforce facility on the AdventHealth Coaching Heart, and for good cause. Little was anticipated of the Bucs final 12 months after the retirement of Tom Brady. They had been instantly discarded as yesterday’s information, and at one time they confronted the longest odds to win the NFC South. The summer time was spent speaking a few quarterback competitors between a Baker Mayfield — who had bounced between three groups in a single calendar 12 months previous to signing with Tampa Bay — and Kyle Trask, who had 9 profession go makes an attempt in two seasons previous to 2023.
Some skepticism was warranted, however far too many individuals ignored the expertise remaining within the Bucs locker room. And when Mayfield went out and revived his profession with a 4,000-yard, 28-touchdown Professional Bowl season, the workforce’s greatest query was answered. It did take a turnaround from 4-7 to 9-8, however Tampa Bay three-peated as NFC South champions, received a playoff sport over Philadelphia and went toe-to-toe with Detroit within the NFC Divisional Spherical.
The Bucs went from down and out to ending 2023 as one of many league’s shock groups. And it’s onerous to not really feel like there could possibly be even higher occasions forward in 2024, as Eleventh-year receiver and workforce legend Mike Evans alluded to after Wednesday’s apply.
“Final 12 months, we heard all of the discuss us being… We misplaced Tom [Brady], we had been going to be trash and issues like that,” Evans mentioned. However we knew the caliber of gamers that we had. And this 12 months, we’re going to be higher, I really feel like. It’s already exhibiting. I do know it’s simply day one, however OTAs, it was completely different than it was a 12 months earlier than. We all know Baker’s gonna be the man. Final 12 months, we didn’t know that [when] getting ready. It’s much more continuity. Simply study the brand new offense and we’re good.”
The Bucs’ Continuity Is Grounded In Their Basis
A lot of the Bucs’ confidence and the excessive stage of expectations they’ve getting into the brand new season are primarily based on the truth that they saved their core intact this offseason. Quarterback Baker Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million contract and formally can name Tampa dwelling after splitting the 2022 calendar 12 months between three groups and cities. Mike Evans signed a two-year, $52 million deal to get him a step nearer to being a Buc for all times.
Lavonte David re-signed on a one-year deal, whereas kicker Chase McLaughlin inked a three-year pact with the workforce after an outstanding 2023 season. And All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr. turned the league’s highest-paid defensive again together with his new four-year deal.
Identical to that, Tampa Bay introduced again its prime 5 free brokers getting into the 2024 offseason, and so they’re all locked and loaded for an additional run on the playoffs with another core, foundational items who’ve been longtime Bucs themselves.
There’s Vita Vea, Jamel Dean, Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin, all members of the Tremendous Bowl LV-winning workforce in 2020. And there are some youthful cornerstones who’ve emerged — or are nonetheless rising — as massive contributors for this workforce. Suppose Rachaad White, Trey Palmer, Luke Goedeke, Cody Mauch, Calijah Kancey and Yaya Diaby, amongst others.
There’s a great core in place for this Buccaneer workforce, and that’s cause sufficient to have some confidence that they’ll be capable of construct off of a robust end to 2023 and go a step additional in 2024. However then you definately add within the reunion with Jordan Whitehead in addition to the addition of a robust rookie class headlined by Graham Barton, Chris Braswell, Jalen McMillan and Tykee Smith? Yeah, it is sensible that these coaches and gamers are returning to coaching camp with a great feeling about what they’ll do in 2024.
Even With Some Modifications, Bucs Really feel They Can Be Even Higher In 2024
It’s not as if all the things is similar for the Bucs heading into 2024. They do have to regulate to a different new offensive coordinator — their third in three years — because the workforce employed Liam Coen to exchange Dave Canales, who left to take the Panthers’ head teaching job. Coen, who comes from the Sean McVay teaching tree and involves Tampa Bay with play-calling expertise, started putting in his offense earlier this summer time throughout OTAs and mini-camp.
Now, it’s time for the group to come back again collectively and sharpen their data of the scheme — then execute come time for the common season. And whereas Coen’s offense shares a variety of components and philosophies with what Tampa Bay ran beneath Canales final 12 months, there are different wrinkles which have the workforce feeling good about its possibilities of placing up extra factors and taking part in with extra consistency this season.
“It’s much more motion, so defenses can’t simply sit there and know what we’re doing,” Mike Evans mentioned Wednesday. “It’s going to be a variety of motion, a variety of eye sweet. And that’s going to assist me and our workforce loads.”
Whereas the offense adapts to the brand new offensive system beneath Coen, the protection noticed some modifications of its personal this offseason. Numerous the core items of Todd Bowles’ protection are nonetheless on the town, however a number of acquainted faces are gone. Devin White signed with the Eagles, Carlton Davis III was traded to the Lions and Shaq Barrett signed with the Dolphins, then finally retired. In order 2024 begins, the Buccaneer protection can have most of the similar leaders, but additionally some new ones. And there’s no fear on Bowles’ finish about some newer leaders stepping up.
“I really feel nice. We’ve nonetheless acquired Lavonte [David], we’ve nonetheless acquired Vita [Vea], we’ve nonetheless acquired [Antoine] Winfield Jr., clearly,” Bowles mentioned. “The fellows which are taking their locations…Zyon [McCollum] has began 9 video games final 12 months – he’s performed. Ok.J. [Britt] acquired a style final 12 months – he’s a pure chief for us. Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka] has been right here for us for some time. And, we’ve acquired some hungry younger guys at these positions.
“When you’ve got a variety of good gamers, you’re both going to lose some to free company, or some to retirement, or some to harm and also you’ve acquired to start out having any individual again behind them. I believe Jason [Licht] did a great job of getting guys in right here that may play and step in on the proper time. They might not be the family names that you just’re used to, however because the season goes on, you’re going to get to know them very properly.”
There’s continuity all through a lot of the workforce, nevertheless it’s as much as the Bucs to roll with a number of the modifications and thrive regardless. Although it was solely day one on Wednesday, it was straightforward to really feel a unique vibe each throughout apply and through post-practice interviews.
The Tremendous Bowl is the aim. The Bucs aren’t shy about that, and so they shouldn’t be. This workforce is aware of what it’s able to, and so most of the workforce’s veterans have been there and executed it. Now, they wish to do it once more – whereas bringing the workforce’s youthful stars together with them.
Evans himself is aware of what it was wish to lose 12 months in and 12 months out, and he mentioned Wednesday that chasing a fifth straight playoff look and fourth straight division title exhibits how far the franchise has come for the reason that early days of his profession. And he has little interest in going again to these days.
“It’s going to be 5 straight, proper? Dang. We got here a good distance. We got here a good distance,” Evans mentioned. “We needed to have some issues occur free agency-wise and with the workforce and our gamers getting higher over time. Our administration workforce has been doing a terrific job. I look again on these occasions, and I by no means wish to return. We’re all the time making an attempt to battle to get within the playoffs. Then clearly, after we get within the playoffs, you see what we will do.”